Urad Dal (white urad dal)

White Urad Dalis a whole or split urad with its skin removed. These lentils are creamy white in color and have a milder
flavor than whole Black Urad Dal. It is
very nutritious and rich in protein. White Urad dal is very easy and quick to make
and the addition of different tadkas makes this dal very flavorful and
delicious.Urad dal is very popular in Punjabi cuisine. In south India, urad
dal is used as a seasoning with mustard seeds for curries and making various
dishes such as Idli, Dosa, and Vada. White urad goes well with tandoori roti,
Missi roti (Black chick peas flour roti) and Naan.

Directions for cooking dal:1. In a pressure cooker add dal and wash, changing water several times until the water appears clear and then soak dal in 4 cups of water for 15 to 20 minutes or longer.

In a cooker add Urad Dal

Wash Urad Dal

2. Once Dal is soaked rinse the water out and wash .

3. Add 3 cups of water, Turmeric powder, salt and 1 teaspoon of oil and mix. When dal is boiling it creates lot of foam and the foam comes out from pressure cooker to prevent that it is a good idea to add little oil.

4. Close the lid of the pressure cooker, place the weight on the lid and cook on medium heat.

Soak Urad Dal in water

Wash and rinse soaked Dal

Urad Dal is soaked

Add Water in soaked Dal

Add Turmeric powder & salt & mix

Close the Pressure cooker

5. In about 8 to 10 minutes pressure cooker will start steaming turn the heat down and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the stove off and wait until steam goes down. Different brand of cooker required different time to cook.

6. While Dal is cooking prepare cumin seed and onion tadkas and keep them aside. (See below for tadka directions)

7. Open the pressure cooker, turn the stove on medium heat, with the cooking spoon mix dal well so there are no lumps.

8. If the Dal is thick then add more water if it is too watery then tilt the pressure cooker and with the cooking spoon scoop the water out, because you do not want to overcook urad dal, it should be soft but it should not become pasty or like a soup, you should see some dal pieces in it

Open the pressure cooker

With a Spoon mix Urad Dal

9. Add Onion Tadka and mix and cook for 3 to 4.​

Add onion tadka

Mix Onion Tadka with Dal

10. Add Cumin seed Tadka and cook for 1 minute , turn the stove off or until you have the desired consistency of Dal.

Add Cumin Seed Tadka

Mix Cumin Seed Tadka

11. If you wish add 1 teaspoon of Mango powder (Amchoor) and mix to give a little savor taste.

12. When ready to serve, transfer Dal in a serving bowl and pour hot chili tadka over dal. (See befow for chili tadka)

Add Mango powder (Amchur)

Urad dal is ready

﻿Tips:﻿

1. If you wish you can skip onion tadka or any other tadka and alter Dal to your taste.

2. Use pressure cooker for cooking dal otherwise it takes too long to cook dal. ﻿Directions for onion tadka﻿: (Tadkas)

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a small frying pan on medium heat, add sliced onions and sauté them while frequently stirring for 5 to 6 minutes or until onions become dark brown. Turn the stove off.﻿Directions for cumin tadka: ﻿(Tadkas)

1. In a small pan (tadka pan) add 1 tablespoon oil, cumin seeds, and asafetida and fry them for 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat or until cumin seeds become dark brown, turn the heat off.﻿Direction for hot chili tadka:﻿(Hot oil)(Tadkas)